It was an era of misery, an era of blood and an era of disaster.
The hope and love of men was but a faint glimmer in the meander, ready to wither for eternity. In the depths of annihilation, all seemed lost...
Yet it was in the abyss of darkness that the light of change shone. One man was chosen by the essence of all things, bending the world to his will. He was the primordial Boechin, Atemit Sembe.
Atemit Sembe restored order and harmony to the world, creating a perfect utopia for the living. This lasted a century, a century of hitherto unhoped-for peace, and the Boechin reigned from his native Senegal.
After these 100 years, Atemit ascended to another plane of existence, transcending physical and spiritual limits. He separated the essence of sembou into 11 parts, which he distributed to those he trusted most, the Boechins. Through his action, he enabled sembou to radiate into the hearts of men, the first chosen ones, those who would soon become the diambars, soldiers of the Boechins to protect the established order.
However, in the balance of all things... order cannot exist without chaos. The 12th essence that Atemit Sembe had hidden eventually found a host, a crowned one without kingdom or reign, a monarch whose subject was desolation: The King of Chaos. To conquer a world devoid of life, he raised an army of the worst monstrosities humanity had ever known: the djinn. Millions of djinns poured into the world, led by 12 generals: the great djinns.
Faced with an army that defied the very definition of horror, a glimmer of hope rose from the East, the heir to hope, the one who carried the will of Atemit Sembe. Followed by the Boechins carrying the first colors of dawn, he stood ready to fight the long night that lay ahead. It was at the end of this long battle that the king was defeated?
Fields of ruin and desolation were the regions of the world after this confrontation, and the forces of evil took up residence there. Only Senegal was somewhat spared, thanks to Gouy-gui, the sacred tree planted by Atemit Sembe. His shield repelled the evil, but its roots were already in the country, growing and gnawing away at the light.
Ultimately, Gouy-gui succeeded in halting this progression, but the damage was done. The roots became fruit, and this fruit resurrected in the form of the 12 great djinns, trying to repel the force of the sacred tree for the return of their sovereign.
"It is said that when chaos has covered the last roots of Gouy-gui, and its branches fall like a burning shower, the king will rise again, and his cry will unleash the last of the nights."
... What a strange legend!
Lying on the tiled floor of the store's entrance, Jojo rested from his long run, enjoying the shade of the tarpaulin above him and the cold tiles below. In this small space, he could clearly see the sky sparse with almost indistinct clouds.
It's a joke... a vast, stupid joke, and this is the world I live in...
This legend was all he had, it was all that could justify the existence of the djinns, the Boechins of the sembou. It was all that could justify their condition, their almost constant sense of danger. It was... all that justified the death of his parents... and all that justified his survival...
Jojo chuckled softly and turned around on the tile floor. He didn't know why he was smiling, but he felt it was his only response to the uncomfortable weight in his stomach. The young boy clung to it, breathing long and easy, contorting his body beneath the cold surface. And under his new reclined vision, with his cheek resting on his arm, he contemplated his surroundings once more.
The world seemed to turn slowly, a slight distortion before his eyes that alienated and isolated him. His perception was reversed, the bustle of the street, the sounds of horns and engines combined with the clattering hooves of the few carts that mingled with the cacophony of the street, everything seemed slightly in reverse sense to him, but this didn't change the unease that had been growing since his awakening.
The unease of not wanting himself, and of not being wanted...
Three centuries... 327 years to be precise. That was how long Senegal had been surrounded by the Gouy-gui barrier. Nothing could get in, and nothing could get out: they were completely cut off from the outside world. And within Gouy-gui itself, 12 danger zones, the garabu-djinns (jinn trees), continued to threaten the inhabitants. The special feature of these zones was that their progress was blocked by the Gouy-gui barrier. Within these zones, there was an impenetrable barrier which, according to theories, sealed the 12 great djinns, the king's generals. It is said that if one of them were to escape, the whole country could come under fire, so the barrier focuses all its power on sealing them in. The only problem is that, in return, protection against the rest of the djinn becomes more fragile. The Thionganes armed corps has been responsible for preventing the invasion of these monsters for 3 centuries now. However, the number of deaths and sacrifices have tarnished their honor, and the Yeumbeul disaster was the last straw that broke a vase already filled with disgust and contempt.
A djinn invasion was exactly what the Thionganes needed to avoid. No matter how unpredictable the situation, the result remained the same. The blame for this event was placed entirely on the warriors, drawing down upon them the hatred of a population that already increasingly despised their fight, whose ever-growing number of victims seemed more a mark of incompetence than a noble sacrifice over time.
With this unpopularity, it became increasingly difficult to recruit new thionganes. Some of those chosen ones preferred to hide their awakening rather than risk dying for nothing, thus creating recruitment problems. Because of this, the chosen ones' examination, which had already become an obligation over the last two or three decades, became a way to forcibly recruiting thionganes.
If I were a thiongane, I wouldn't want to fight for people like that.
Ruminating on his anger, Daniel infused all his turbulent feelings into a swift, aggressive gait, as if the sands of Keur Massar had greatly offended him. Each of his steps propelled a large quantity of earth behind him, hurling it at those following from behind.
_ Hey, take it easy, you're painting our bodies!
_ I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" shouted Daniel, turning violently behind him to face Pape Moussa. A few of their friends, Abdou, Ousmane, Saliou and Jerome, took the opportunity to catch up.
They had left the area of Unit 15, which made up half of MTOA, and were now heading for Unit 12. The style of the houses hadn't changed profoundly, but the soil here was wetter, and whole areas were covered in weeds. On top of that, some walls showed slightly greenish layers due to mold. It was a most atypical landscape, but they were no strangers to it, not in the least, especially at the start of winter.
Daniel angrily approached Pape Moussa, his fists clenched in an attempt to keep what little composure he had left.
_ I swear, if I don't find Jojo...
_ Stop being so dramatic, man, retorted Pape Moussa mockingly, we're not dealing with a kid this...
_ I don't give a fuck about that! repeated Daniel vehemently. He's holed up somewhere because of what you said!
A fleeting expression of regret passed over Pape Moussa's features before disappearing beneath a mask of neutrality.
_ Listen, I'm really sorry about that, he said in a tone he intended to be calm, I spoke without thinking...
_ Ah, because you can think? Daniel sneered.
Pape Moussa took the brunt of the blow, a glint of anger shining in his eyes. Jerome, true to himself, immediately started complaining as he caught up with them.
_ Y'all are not going to clash again, are you?
_ Oh no, that's not my intention, replied Pape Moussa, raising both hands in respite. But Mr. Daniel Carvalho over there...
_ Don't try to act like I'm the problem, you asshole!
_ There's no point in arguing...
Saliou's almost inaudible voice was heard on his left. Daniel turned violently, a scathing repartee already on the tip of his tongue. However, the soft, shy look in his friend's eyes made him swallow it back; he was unable to keep his anger with this guy around, he felt almost ashamed because, in his memory, he'd never seen him angry.
Perhaps reassured by Daniel's silence, Saliou continued gently.
_ The most important thing is to find Jojo, isn't it?
_ ... Yeah, right, replied Daniel sheepishly.
Then let's head for the thionganes ceremony, he concluded, his tone soothing, "seeing as how he insisted on going, it would make sense for him to be there.
_ And if he's not there..., Daniel started.
_ Then he'll probably be back at your place," cut in Saliou. Jojo's not the type to run away for so little; he's too scared of Inés for that.
Daniel found himself unable to counter his arguments.
_ Right... sorry...
_ As for you, Saliou continued, turning to Pape Moussa in a slightly firmer tone, you'd better apologize to Jojo when you see him.
His interlocutor looked away with a look of annoyance on his face. Daniel could have burst into flames if he hadn't heard his reply in a grumpy whisper.
_ I already intended to...
_ Then it's settled, exclaimed Saliou happily, clapping both his hands. Let's not waste time here, the ceremony is about to begin.
And with his ever so discreet step, he took the lead of the group. The others froze momentarily, the scene finally striking them as somewhat ridiculous. Then Jerome burst out laughing, closely followed by Abdou. Ousmane seemed a little lost, but followed his big brother's example without trying too hard to find a reason. Daniel and Pape Moussa, at a loss, glanced at each other quickly before watching them banter hysterically.
_ ... What's so funny?" asked Daniel, properly bewildered.
_ It's... it's just..." Jerome tried to say between bursts of laughter, he calmed you down so easily, you'd think he was your dad....
Daniel turned his face away, rubbing the back of his neck in annoyance, trying to cover his embarrassment.
_ Yeah, well, he grumbled.
Pape Moussa said nothing, but a slight amused smile played on his lips. Much of the tension in the atmosphere had evaporated as suddenly as it had appeared.
_ Hey, said Saliou, who was waiting for them a few yards away, next to a building that looked as if it might collapse in the slightest gust of wind, a hint of reproach in his voice, I'm waiting for you.
_ Sorry, we're on our way, replied Jerome with a smile, before rushing to follow him.
Abdou and Ousmane followed, leaving Daniel and Pape Moussa behind. The two boys glanced at each other for the last time before following them too.